Hunting for luminophores: Ir(III) and Cu(I) complexes, Eu(III)-MWCNT hybrids, metal free systems

Over the years, our group has investigated several classes of luminescent molecules, metal complexes and materials. The lecture is an overview of the work carried out in this area. First, cationic cyclometallated Ir(III) complexes will be introduced,[1] highlighting the ligand design criteria to be followed for obtaining bright and stable blue emitters, which is of key importance for the implementation in light-emitting electrochemical cells (LECs).[2-4] Pros and cons of the use of iridium for this purpose will be highlighted. Then Cu(I) metal complexes ¬- particularly those based on phenanthroline and phosphine ligands[5-7]- will be presented, showing that the emission performance and stability can be improved by molecular design, but these compounds are still less mature than Ir(III) complexes as active materials for electroluminescent devices. Eventually, hybrid materials made of Eu(III) complexes which are adsorbed, electrostatically bound or even encapsulated inside multi-walled carbon nanotubes will be illustrated.[8] Finally, the possibility of creating fully organic triplet emitters, getting rid of metal elements all together will be discussed.[9] In a nutshell, the lecture will present recent advances in two of the most important classes of luminescent metal complexes - Ir(III) and Cu(I) - highlighting alternative approaches to emitting materials in the hybrid and fully organic domain.